Be Home For Christmas

Merry Christmas!

The count down is on.  Time to get those cards in the mail. This year I selected the Poinsettia from the flower portrait series by Gene Sasse. At this writing there is a basket available at the CCAA Museum of Art. Sold with white envelopes- I took mine up the decorative notch by inserting in green 5 x7's from the  Paper Source . One of my favorite stationary boutiques, there are 13 locations just in California.






I am not fond of hand held video camera production values. But there is an exception to every rule and you simply must click on the video to hear baritone Dave Britton sing, "Ill Be Home for Christmas." It may be the best 4 minutes and 4 seconds of your holiday season. 

Initially forwarded by Judy Duvall- I was number 33 to view- His voice is so clear- so strong- think Robert Goulet  in Camelot  or Davis Gaines in Phantom of the Opera - I wept.

Now I switch to what all writer's do when they get a hot lead. I am on the hunt. So far I have found there are at least 3 singers in the US sharing the name. Once the biographical information on this wonder of nature talent is vetted- I will write more. For that- You can count on me.

Finding Blessings

B-rrrr. Gloria Whitley sent the photo from the Pacific Northwest. One thing about snow. Every one I know from a chilly climate is nice. Think it has to do with the blessing of so much time inside together.

Obviously, it was warmer in September when Anka Sepulveda and her husband Chet Wills met me for dinner in Portland.

B-rrrr.

While these families shovel snow, I will be putting into action an idea from the trip to Eugene with GWA: strawberries as a ground cover.

Even with vastly different climates- there are still garden ideas we can share. That is a blessing of travel. I plan to plug in a dozen little plants in the plantar next to the spa. Then this spring, I imagine sitting in the bubbling hot tub, reaching over to pluck strawberries and pop them into the mouth straight from the garden - that is luxury better than supplied by any resort.

Life is like a bed of roses. Full of beauty. But every voluptuous flower is held at the end of a thorny stem. The 2009 AARS Hybrid Tea winner "Pink Promise" fills the vase with blooms. A portion of the proceeds of every bush sold is being donated to support the work of the National Breast Cancer Foundation. Osh and Costco are among the retailers who now have them in stock. Every one you purchase is a blessing given and received.

This Irish blessing, I almost didn't open it. Sometimes I get impatient about downloads. But the Irish are poets- I had to make the time. It is about the truest little clip about the blessings we should ask for each other

More inspirational downloads can be found at http://www.e-water.net/info_en.php

This Christmas, I wish your life to be overflowing with true blessings.

Greetings!

Welcome to my home on the internet. This is a bit of a grand experiment, so I ask your patience and understanding in advance, as I learn how hosting a blog works.

When I wrote a first person column when my sons were in high school, they lived in fear that I would write about them, and embarass them in the ways only a mother can. I imagine that when they find out I am posting on the internet, they are going to thank God that they grew up and left home before I tried this broad a communication!

There are many people I will thank over time for this new adventure, but for right now, I would like to thank the Madrid based photographer, Ilana Panich-Linsman. I met her when I was Editor of my hometown newspaper, The Windmill. Immediately after she graduated from Scripps College in Claremont, she gave up her summer to raise funds to purchase medical supplies for those whose lives were disrupted by Hurricane Katrina through Bike Across America. I remain in awe of the obstacles she and Colin Mortensen overcame as they planned and then crossed our continent-wide nation, powered mostly by the muscles in their legs and character in their hearts. Later, she was kind enough to share her own blog with me. Without her pioneering inspiration, I might not be brave enough to try this out.

So to those of you who read this, I wish you many blessings,

Lydia Plunk